Balance Music: 25 Years On – A Personal Reflection
It’s hard to believe that Balance Music has been around for 25 years. When we first started, there was no grand plan—just a love for electronic music and a desire to share it. We never imagined that what began as a small project in Australia would grow into something that reaches people all over the world.
Later this year, we’ll mark this milestone with a huge venture as we travel to Croatia to host Balance Croatia Festival, the first-ever music festival dedicated to progressive and melodic house. This is going to be a moment 25 years in the making, and we couldn’t be more excited! Of course, reaching this point has been a journey, with many steps along the way…
The Balance Series was one of the first big steps. Starting at the turn of the millenium, we wanted to create something that gave DJs complete creative freedom—a space where they could craft something timeless, rather than just a mix of club tracks. Seeing artists like James Zabiela, Hernan Cattaneo, Max Cooper, and Danny Tenaglia bring their unique visions to the series has been incredible. Some of these mixes have gone on to define eras of electronic music, but at the time, we were just excited to hear what they would come up with.
Beyond the compilations, Balance Music naturally evolved into a label, which opened the door to working with so many talented producers. Artists like D-Nox & Beckers, Gai Barone, Brian CID, Jamie Stevens, and Danny Bonnici have brought their own sound and energy to the label, keeping it moving forward. It’s been a privilege to support both emerging talents and established names—it’s always been about the music first.
Looking back, we’re incredibly grateful for the people who have been part of this journey—the artists, the listeners, the team behind the scenes. Balance has never been about following trends; it’s about creating something that lasts, something meaningful.
Joe MILLER Mixes 25 Year Anniversary Retrospective mix
Last year, a close friend of the label and an artist we deeply admire, Joe Miller, curated a countdown of his favorite Balance Series mix and track entries—an effort that showcased his deep connection to the label’s history.
Now, as he prepares to release his new solo EP, Planet is Far Away, through Anjunadeep later this month (Melbourne launch event details here), Joe has once again taken the time to celebrate 25 years of Balance Music with a mix that is hard to put into words. This incredible retrospective reimagines key moments from past Balance Series compilations, weaving them together in a way that feels both fresh and deeply familiar.
For long-time listeners, our first introduction to Joe’s talent came a decade earlier, with this exquisite mix he crafted for us back in 2014. (If you’ve not heard it, go treat yourself). So if anyone was equipped to take on such a mammoth task, it was Joe.
We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as we do. And as we move into the next chapter, the goal remains the same: to keep releasing music that inspires, to give artists a platform to express themselves, and to continue sharing the sounds that brought us here in the first place.
Thank you for being part of it.
(More info on Joe Miller: linktr.ee/joe_miller_music)
(in order of first appearance)
